A son of immigrants, Mario Flores, grew up in a mobile home park on the very west end of San Bernardino never thinking that he would one day have a chance at being elected to political office in the city. Yet, he says the idea of running for office was constantly in the back of his mind.
On March 5, that dream was realized for Flores when he became the youngest and first Latino to be elected to the City Council to represent San Bernardino’s Sixth Ward.
“Growing up I didn’t feel that I was capable of doing it,” Flores said. “Someone with my background coming from living in a mobile home park, growing up the way I did. It wasn’t something that a first generation [American would think] was attainable.”
For Flores, the journey to becoming a City Council member began at church. At a young age, Flores became very active in the community, volunteering at a local park and joining the Youth Ministry at Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in San Bernardino. Flores would become a leader in the Youth in Action Youth Ministry which he says helped him overcome his shyness.
“I’ve always been timid, introverted, and youth ministry, serving people, has always helped me get out of my shell,” Flores said. “Being able to express who I am and not be timid anymore. Living up to the name of the ministry, youth in action, not only is it prayer, but you have to know your faith and live your faith.”
Not only was Flores an active leader in youth ministry, but he also participated in the V Encuentro, a four-year process that called for the development of resources and initiatives to better serve the fast-growing Hispanic population in the diocese, parishes, ecclesial movements, and other Catholic organizations and institutions. Flores’ involvement in the V Encuentro process, which took place from 2017-2020, led his parish to nominate him to be a diocesan delegate for the Regional and National V Encuentro processes. Being a delegate and speaking to a room of nearly 2,000 people had a significant impact on Flores’ outlook on public speaking, which ultimately prepared him for his political career later on.
“I think that was the first time that I spoke to a group as big as that,” Flores recalls. “I do remember that instance and I reflect on it whenever I have to do public speaking. I tell myself, ‘If I was able to do it in front of a group that big, I can do it in a group of like 20 people,’ it really helped me.”
Flores was working in retail at a local Target when he took his first step into the political arena. In January 2022, he was hired by Helen Tran during her campaign for Mayor of San Bernardino. Flores worked for Tran’s campaign and helped with community engagement. After Tran was elected mayor, Flores was hired into a similar position by San Bernardino County Supervisor Joe Baca, Jr., who represents the Fifth District of the County. He held that post from November 2022 to December 2023.
“It was similar to working in the parishes,” Flores recalled about his first experience working for Mayor Tran. “I’ve always mentioned that every step of my life it always felt like it was a building block for me. The youth ministry helped to build me to have more confidence. Working for Target in a leadership role, learning how to engage with people. It’s all character development and shifting into the political realm, I feel like God told me I’m putting you into what you’re supposed to be doing in life and everything that you’ve done in the past has built you up to start doing this.”
Working for Supervisor Baca is what ultimately gave Flores the confidence to fulfill his life-long dream of running for political office. However, in the process of making the decision to run for City Council, Flores had to fall back on his faith.
“I had a great job working for the county, I was comfortable. Having to leave that behind to jump into this was a big decision to make. It took me about a month to do that. I started thinking, if I were to wait and not do it until 2028, would I feel regret for not doing it [earlier], would I be able to live with that? That’s when I got deeper into it in prayer. I said, ‘God I know it’s not an easy decision, please help me. Any decision I make, comfort me, be there with me.’ The deadline to apply was coming up and I said, ‘I can’t look back,’ I just took a leap of faith.”
During his four-year term, Flores hopes the community will see things happen in a positive way. He says his priority issues are reducing homelessness, improving the streets and parks, reducing crime and attracting high-paying jobs.
“I want people to know that those positive things happened. Not so much knowing my name, but that things were moving in a positive direction, things changed… that’s what I really hope for.”
Now, at 27-years-old, looking back on his journey to City Council, Flores reflects on his relationship with God.
“Growing up, especially as a young person, you have your relationship with God. You’re going through it, and you know He loves you but then there’s points in your life where you don’t feel that,” Flores said. “I remember looking back and thinking, He was there the whole time. Even if I didn’t physically see it or feel it at that moment. Looking back at it, yeah, He was there. He was behind the scenes doing the work and here I am. That’s why every morning, every day I’m giving thanks.”
This realization that Flores now has is the advice he offers to the current youth in the community.
“Don’t give up and everything happens for a reason,” Flores said. “It’s all a part of God’s plan and just keep working for what you want. If you want a better life, then just keep striving for it. It’ll come and always have that dialogue with God.”